Koncocoo

Best Nonfiction

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
The #1 New York Times –bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the forthcoming PBS documentary “Boys of ‘36” For readers of Unbroken , out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world.
Reviews
"But by taking every sliver of hope, and mixing in superb craftsmanship (from George Pocock), excellent coaching (Al Ulbrickson), and these nine perfectly attuned young men learning together........the result was perfection. It is nice to learn something you never knew, but is common knowledge to an entire set of other people. Concepts from Daniel Brown to consider that are mixed into the story to teach all of us: 1) One of the fundamental challenges in rowing is that when any one member of a crew goes into a slump the entire crew goes with him. The speed of a racing shell is determined primarily by two factors: the power produced by the combined strokes of the oars, and the stroke rate, the number of strokes the crew takes each minute. There are other great ideas to ponder in this epic almost 400 page, could-not-put-down story."
"Astonishing tales of Joe's upbringing and resilience; the unbelievable drive of every member of the rowing teams, their coach Al Ulrickson and boat builder George Pocock; the rivalry between West Coast universities; and then the astonishment of the East Coast clubs and schools confronting the Seattle crew."
"held local discussions, and had an opportunity to meet the author locally.If you like learning about history through a good story, this is the book for you."
"I enjoyed reading the book, although inn places it seemed a little long, or to put it another way; more information than we needed."
Find Best Price at Amazon
Living Language Spanish, Complete Edition
At the core of Complete Spanish is the Living Language Method™, based on linguistic science, proven techniques, and over 65 years of experience. • 3 Books: 46 lessons, additional review exercises, culture notes, an extensive glossary, and a grammar summary—plus a bonus notebook. • 9 Audio CDs: Vocabulary, dialogues, audio exercises, and more—listen while using the books or use for review on the go. • Free Online Learning: Flashcards, games, and interactive quizzes for each lesson at www.livinglanguage.com/languagelab. Living Language has been a proven and effective language learning instruction for over 65 years.
Reviews
"To get 9 CDs and 3+ books for $28 is just an unbelievable bargain especially compared to big-name systems which, ironically, consistently get poor reviews and cost much, much more. The main advantage of the Duolingo course is that it is interactive -- you have to type in answers and if you get too many wrong, you have to repeat the lesson. Another thing is that listening to spoken Spanish and reading it at the same doubles your learning capacity as aural and visual input are stored in different parts of the brain and subsequently reinforce each other."
"I had previously purchased Rosetta Stone which provides no workbooks and the online access costs $14 per month or $89 per year....this after you pay a premium price for something that is no better than this product."
"In contrast to my high school German, I was clearly at my own pace with this study, and I proceeded at one lesson each week, regardless of how easy some seemed (with the exception of numbers, which went more quickly). That being said, if you are not keen on the subjunctive mood, indirect object pronouns and similar grammatical elements as such, the books provide brief descriptions of each as they are encountered."
"However, I decided to leave this feedback since Living Language really has to be appreciated for their great method of teaching, their great service and their great price that is very affordable."
Find Best Price at Amazon
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
SHELF AWARENESS'S BEST BOOK OF 2017. Named a best book of the year by Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, GQ, Time, Newsday, Entertainment Weekly, Time Magazine, NPR's Maureen Corrigan , NPR's "On Point," Vogue , Smithsonian, Cosmopolitan, Seattle Times, Bloomberg, Lit Hub's "Ultimate Best Books ," Library Journal, Paste, Kirkus, Slate.com. and Book Browse From New Yorker staff writer David Grann, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Lost City of Z, a twisting, haunting true-life murder mystery about one of the most monstrous crimes in American history In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, they rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe. Based on years of research and startling new evidence, the book is a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction, as each step in the investigation reveals a series of sinister secrets and reversals. The Amazon Editors' Pick for the Best Book of 2017: In the 1920s, the Osage found themselves in a unique position among Native Americans tribes. As other tribal lands were parceled out in an effort by the government to encourage dissolution and assimilation of both lands and culture, the Osage negotiated to maintain the mineral rights for their corner of Oklahoma, creating a kind of “underground reservation.” It proved a savvy move; soon countless oil rigs punctured the dusty landscape, making the Osage very rich.
Reviews
"This story needed to be told, and it fascinating the amount of detail that went into describing the horrors of that period of time. One aspect that had it been included, would have really helped solidify some of the information is a time line with events and people."
"This is one of the best true crime historical accounts I've ever read."
"You should read it."
"Having been a huge horse racing fan when I was a teenager, I knew about the wealth of the Osage Nation in the 1920s. I had no idea how rich the Osage really were, and I certainly didn't have a clue that the government didn't trust them with all that money. It had to madden many whites that, although they'd shoved the Osage onto a piece of land they deemed unfit for themselves, oil would be discovered and the Osage would turn out to be the wealthiest people in the world. The one way they had of trying to horn in on this wealth was by declaring that the Osage were not fit to use their own money wisely."
"The author captures an era of lawlessness and greed in frontier life and shares a piece of history that almost remained untold."
"Very interesting book that intertwined,the sad story of the Osages with the development of the FBI."
"Interesting account, but very slow paced and got bogged down in reading it.....trying to find out who the killer was in the mysterious deaths and murders of the Osage tribe."
"This book reads like a crime novel."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Spanish

Santa Biblia Complete Reina Valera en 64 Audio CD Plus una Reina Valera 2000 Completa-Completa en MP3 Discs-Two Complete Biblias Español Reina Valera ... para cada disco (Spanish Edition)
Esta nueva edición viene en 64 de alta calidad, alta fidelidad, CDs de audio digital e incluye una segunda completa Biblias españolas, tanto el Antiguo Testamento y el Nuevo Testamento, en la fácil de entender y disfrutar de Reina Valera 2000 Version en 2 discos MP3 digitales.
Reviews
"This was purchased as a gift for a friend who lost his sight recently."
"My dad loves his bible cds and plays them all of the time."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best ( Y )

The Jesus I Never Knew
A Jesus fully capable of turning your life completely around. Bestselling author Philip Yancey offers a new and different perspective on the life of Christ and his work--his teachings, his miracles, his death and resurrection, and ultimately, who he was and why he came.
Reviews
"Very enlightening book."
"This was a very good read."
"This is a classic explanation of the essence of Christianity—Jesus, himself."
"A very interesting look at the Jesus you may think you know."
"I really found this to be excellent."
"Haven't started yet."
"This is book not to read only once but many times."
"When you see Jesus, you see the Father."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best German Language Instruction

The Everything Learning German Book: Speak, write, and understand basic German in no time
German and English are closely related--you already know viele Phrasen! Building on the German language's close relation to English, this all-new edition covers everything from basic introductions to verb conversions. Whether you want to sample das stoutest Lager or converse with your grandparents in their native tongue, you'll soon discover just how easy it is to learn German! Rules of spelling and punctuation Appropriate language for correspondence in German, including e-mail Updated exercises. He is the author of several German, Russian, and ESL textbooks and wrote the first edition of The Everything Learning German Book and The Everything German Phrase Book.
Reviews
"- The exercises are rather limited, I don't believe beginners will be able to properly learn and understand the cases with such a limited set of exercises about the subject. - It often feels like the vocabulary is just thrown in there, because they had to put in some words here in there, if you're looking to learn a lot of words, this probably isn't the right book for you. All in all it is a good read, but you shouldn't use this book only to study German, consider it as an introduction or a book to freshen up old skills and improve your German by actually getting books with grammar/vocabulary drills."
"Teaching German in my home school this year and this book has been the basis for our lessons."
"Trying to brush up on my Deutsch."
"Time to delve into learning German again."
"I thought that this book might be too elementary for me becaue I have been self-studying German for the last several years."
"Great And besure delivery!Thanks Amazon."
"The first few chapters are all about the fundamentals of language, comparisons of German to English, etc."
"I speak, read and understand German very well as both the progeny of immigrants and through collegiate studies."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Social Studies Teaching Materials

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
This updated and revised edition of the American Book Award-winner and national bestseller revitalizes the truth of America’s history, explores how myths continue to be perpetrated, and includes a new chapter on 9/11 and the Iraq War. James W. Loewen is the bestselling author of Lies My Teacher Told Me and Lies Across America.
Reviews
"Every teacher in the country should read this book and be guided by it when teaching students of all ages."
"just an all around great read."
"It has tons of great information about things that are often taught to "favor" the United States in American History classrooms."
"This book should be mandatory in all middle - high school classrooms."
"What was bought was a piece of paper that Columbus made a claim, it wasn't anything."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Romance

Outlander
Davina Porter's lyrical narration will launch listeners into an exhilarating world of heroism, pulse-pounding adventure, and breathtaking romance as one woman is torn between past and present, passion and love. For here, James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.
Reviews
"Not only did she write this long novel (plus seven more, plus some related novellas and such), and keep it endlessly entertaining with vivid characters and fresh plot twists galore. They are the kind of verbal jewels that make any author gasp and say "I wish I wrote that." The odds are slim that anyone will encounter this five-star review in the vast ocean of existing appreciation for this delightful book and its author. If, perchance, a live person actually reads this review, please let me know with a "helpful" vote."
"With the the portability and ease of reading electronically I am reliving the stories of Clare and Jamie and Brianna and Roger et al again. Diana delivers the emotion, sights, sounds, smells, triumphs and failures with her words. She always finds alliterative and clever phrasing to bring everything alive - whether it is a trip across the sea or a dangerous encounter or mundane every tasks or Clare and Jamie enjoying the delights of each other intimately."
"The book starts with the heroine in Scotland just after WWII and she accidentally goes back 200 years in time. I can see a wide range of complaints from too much romance, violence, torture, sex, intrigue, too many characters, too much discussion about medicine, the scenery and the weather."
"This is my second time reading this series."
"While I truly relish D. Gabaldon's writing, I feel that the tale is greatly enhanced by Davina Porter's as narrator. Suffice it to say that this is the continuation of the story of the lives of Claire Beauchamp and Jamie Fraser after they're forced to marry. When I'm feeling industrious I intend to look this up and check the facts against the plot line."
"The characters are human, with faults and evils, allowing Clare to be a heroine, because men can need saving too."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Music

Born to Run
He describes growing up Catholic in Freehold, New Jersey, amid the poetry, danger, and darkness that fueled his imagination, leading up to the moment he refers to as “The Big Bang”: seeing Elvis Presley’s debut on The Ed Sullivan Show . Like many of his songs (“Thunder Road,” “Badlands,” “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” “The River,” “Born in the U.S.A,” “The Rising,” and “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” to name just a few), Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography is written with the lyricism of a singular songwriter and the wisdom of a man who has thought deeply about his experiences. Born to Run takes readers on a riveting ride through the everyman rock star’s deeply lived existence.” — Associated Press. He delivers the story of Bruce—in digestibly short chapters—via an informally steadfast Jersey plainspeak that’s worked and deftly detailed and intimate with its readers—cleareyed enough to say what it means when it has hard stories to tell, yet supple enough to rise to occasions requiring eloquence—sometimes rather pleasingly subsiding into the syntax and rhythms of a Bruce Springsteen song." “A virtuoso performance, the 508-page equivalent to one of Springsteen and the E Street Band's famous four-hour concerts: Nothing is left onstage, and diehard fans and first-timers alike depart for home sated and yet somehow already aching for more.” — NPR. He is a man – a son, a husband, a father and a friend – willing to share what he’s learned.” —Wall Street Journal --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Reviews
"The motivations, the demons, the anxiety, the joys, the fears, the hopes, the dreams, all the elements that have constituted the Boss’s muse over these past 50 years are explained here. I do not want to reveal any of the revelations the reader will discover within the pages of this book, but I can say it was interesting to learn that Bruce possesses many of the same insecurities of us mere mortals. Bruce discloses, in great detail, particulars of his early years, his upbringing, the issues that influenced the way he thinks, his musically formative years, his wide held acclaim, his family, his doubts, his fears, and a treasure trove of personal details I have never heard before. Bruce has obviously spent much time in intense introspection, and he shares many of his insights and conclusions here. Now that the great James Brown has passed on, the moniker, “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” clearly belongs to Bruce. His unique gifts of lyric writing, musical composition, musicianship, and studio and on stage performance have rarely been seen in a single person. If you have ever wondered exactly what it is that makes one of the greatest of this or any other generation’s musical talents tick, it is all right here. Through a lifetime of events he details here, his skills developed and he has evolved into the national and world treasure affectionately referred to as "The Boss.""
"Bruce Springsteen's book follows the advice of "write it like you say it.""
"Not only great songs that many of us love and identify with, but now he’s given us this inspiring autobiography! Hopefully, those reading the book, who have never suffered from it, will understand how it never goes away, but can be managed (exercise, meds, and support from loved ones)."
"I especially enjoyed reading about some of his specific songs and what they really mean."
"Incredibly well-written, Mr. Springsteen can describe a scene in such a way that makes you feel like you are there -- smelling the smells, hearing the sounds, and feeling the feelings."
"I love Springsteen and the real story though I read another Bio a very good one by an Author named Carlin; but reading his own words about how it all came to be was fascinating and totally interesting and lesson in single minded deterimination to succeed!"
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Horror

It: A Novel
Now a major motion picture—Stephen King’s terrifying, classic #1 New York Times bestseller, “a landmark in American literature” ( Chicago Sun-Times )—about seven adults who return to their hometown to confront a nightmare they had first stumbled on as teenagers…an evil without a name: It . But the promise they made twenty-eight years ago calls them to reunite in the same place where, as teenagers, they battled an evil creature that preyed on the city’s children. His novel 11/22/63 —a recent Hulu original television series event—was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller as well as the Best Hardcover Book Award from the International Thriller Writers.
Reviews
"When I was on a school field trip in the seventh grade, I took Stephen King's "IT" with me to read. I'd gotten into reading Stephen King two years before by way of a trip over the previous summer to my uncle's house. He had a collection of Stephen King novels and I'd started reading them with Pet Sematary, which had been adapted to the big screen two years before. In the intervening time, I'd devoured Salem's Lot, Carrie, Firestarter, and Misery, and The Shining. Whereas as a kid I identified with those elements as mapping directly onto my friends and setting, I did it unconsciously. I appreciated how well King encapsulated the distance between childhood and adulthood and all the roads we travel in between. King doesn't use mere words to tell stories, he uses meanings themselves, woven seemingly seamlessly into shades of context and pigments of innuendo and occasionally bright, obvious splashes of unobfuscated emotion that jar you because...hey...in real life that's how it works. And in getting that right, King manages to make the impossible elements like the supernatural nature of IT and the relationship IT has with the town of Derry and the inhabitants there...normal."
"Seven outcasts form a bond in order to defeat It, deeming themselves The Loser’s Club. Thinking they defeated It as children, they lead a life outside of Derry until the murders start happening again. Twenty-seven years later, The Loser’s Club makes their way back to Derry to defeat the evil once and for all. With the way King goes into details, it’s like you are actually in the book right beside the characters as they go through the horrors of every day life of living in Derry. His style definitely works by making you really feel terrified as you read, as if It could actually reach out and grab you at any minute. “…she took her washcloth and leaned over the basin to get some water and the voice came whispering out of the drain: ‘Help me….’”. -Stephen King, It. I loved the way this book was formatted. The book is split up into 5 parts, alternating between childhood and adulthood in the perspective of every member of The Loser’s Club. “Can an entire city be haunted?”. –Stephen King, It. This novel wouldn’t be what it is without the addition of the Derry Interludes at the end of every part. She wasn’t a major part of the storyline; therefore, I really didn’t care to hear about her life. Also I feel the need to mention one specific scene that just did not sit well with me, mainly because the ages of the characters at this point in the novel."
"Recent repackage of a classic Stephen King."
"The story is much better than the tv series."
"No one tells a story like King."
"The MP3 CD version was easily rippable to computer for putting on an iPod."
"Great book."
"Love this book I remember reading it maybe 10 years ago and to re read it was amazing love the book a wonderful read from beginning to end."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best History

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
The #1 New York Times –bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the forthcoming PBS documentary “Boys of ‘36” For readers of Unbroken , out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world.
Reviews
"But by taking every sliver of hope, and mixing in superb craftsmanship (from George Pocock), excellent coaching (Al Ulbrickson), and these nine perfectly attuned young men learning together........the result was perfection. It is nice to learn something you never knew, but is common knowledge to an entire set of other people. Concepts from Daniel Brown to consider that are mixed into the story to teach all of us: 1) One of the fundamental challenges in rowing is that when any one member of a crew goes into a slump the entire crew goes with him. The speed of a racing shell is determined primarily by two factors: the power produced by the combined strokes of the oars, and the stroke rate, the number of strokes the crew takes each minute. There are other great ideas to ponder in this epic almost 400 page, could-not-put-down story."
"Astonishing tales of Joe's upbringing and resilience; the unbelievable drive of every member of the rowing teams, their coach Al Ulrickson and boat builder George Pocock; the rivalry between West Coast universities; and then the astonishment of the East Coast clubs and schools confronting the Seattle crew."
"held local discussions, and had an opportunity to meet the author locally.If you like learning about history through a good story, this is the book for you."
"I enjoyed reading the book, although inn places it seemed a little long, or to put it another way; more information than we needed."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Humor

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
Following his return to America after twenty years in Britain, Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The AT, as it's affectionately known to thousands of hikers, offers an astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes--and to a writer with the comic genius of Bill Bryson, it also provides endless opportunities to test his own powers of ineptitude, and to witness the majestic silliness of his fellow human beings.
Reviews
"I'm a sexagenarian who, on a recent vacation, happened to walk out and back on the first three miles or so of the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail (Springer Mtn, GA) and, in a fit of exhilaration, decided then and there that I would, by golly, hike the AT before I died. As I was joyfully entertained by his incisive sense of humor, I was simultaneously and seriously learning history, biology, geology (and several other -ologies) as well as being discomfitted by Bryson's documentation of our culture's dismissive practices regarding ecology."
"If you are an Anglophile, or if you have ever traveled to, or lived in the UK, you will enjoy reading this book about some of the cities, towns, villages, and places beyond the beaten track of most American tourists (i.e. London and environs)."
"His weaving of the natural and political history of the area covered by the AT, as well as other notable sites, particularly our National Parks, with his observations and experiences on the trail, make this book a treasure and a delight unlike any other book of its kind."
"It is a very fine book and probably deserves five stars, but I was feeling a bit chintzy because of perceived page inflation concerning forays into interesting but only tangentially related history."
"The best part of this book is the first one-third when Bryson is shopping for hiking equipment, getting acquainted with Stephen Katz, and preparing to go on the AT. The rest of the book quickly descends into disorganized rant (yes, Bryson, we get that you don't like the Forest Service), snippets of high school biology (who actually thought knowing the parts of the plant could matter?"
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Business

The Secret (Unabridged, 4-CD Set)
For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life transforming for all who experience it. You will learn how to use The Secret in every single area of your life. Supporters will hail this New Age self-help book on the law of attraction as a groundbreaking and life-changing work, finding validation in its thesis that one's positive thoughts are powerful magnets that attract wealth, health, happiness... and did we mention wealth?
Reviews
"When I first began to read this book I honestly thought it was a crock and a waste of my time and money. When I initially disagreed with one of the authors viewpoint with in the book and scrutinized another's personal life through research I was almost stop reading, but I decided to continue reading anyway. As the book unraveled and began to reveal "The Secret," and how to apply it into my life immediately, I allowed myself to be open in receiving whatever insight I could in order to help me overcome several difficulties in my life and achieve a better quality of life overall. This is a life changing book and I see why it has sold millions and millions of copies around the world."
"When I do my evening gratitude exercises, I feel like I am writing the most important chart of my life. And it helps to sleep better :). I also picked a special pen, and now the whole process becomes sacred."
"In my opinion I knew I was probably one of the most negative persons around and most of my family thought so too.It's very hard to change something you have been conditioned to doing so many years. I can remember as a young child never really being happy,not knowing exactly why and for sure never knew how to change that feeling."
"This is a great book our use it daily to get some positive thoughts to start my day it helps you stay on the positive track and keep charging forward it set up for you to read every day each paragraph per day however I try to read ahead at least six or seven pages so I have more in me throughout the day I really enjoyed this book it’s very nice highly rec."
"I like this little book a lot but i think i will be regifting it as reading pages of The Secret book on a daily basis is enough for me."
"I know a lot of people like this book."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best General

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)
For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black.
Reviews
"SPECIAL NOTE: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases (with the exception of changing all "Philosopher's Stone" mentions to "Sorcerer's Stone"). Good or bad is naturally for each reader to decide--just know, if you plan to read the books while listening to Jim Dale's audiobooks, you'll notice a few superficial differences. The quality of this new illustrated edition is phenomenal. All chapter intros are illustrated."
"IMPORTANT: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases. This difference isn't as prominent or noticeable as it was with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, but still something to keep in mind. Also, to answer a question that has come up quite a bit, this is the FULL BOOK and not an abridged or shortened version. Underneath the book jacket, the novel is bound in a sturdy orange hardback with green lettering on the spine."
"I was ravenous to get my hands on my copy as soon as it was delivered this morning, but was quickly disappointed. But when I took a close look at my dust jacket, I was extremely upset to find that the gold foil lettering for "Harry Potter" had been rubbed away and destroyed completely in some places leaving ugly, black matte in its place-- pock marking the otherwise handsome gold lettering. Needless to say I'm in awe how Bloomsbury has managed to put together such an incredible project, with JK Rowling's remarkable literature and Jim Kay's otherworldly illustrations-- and allowed it to be put together in a low quality binding! Not all alone in a box... Update (October 9th): I have finally received my new book and it was in much, much better condition. The cover and spine were tight, intact and falling apart from the binding like my original copy."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Languages

Living Language Spanish, Complete Edition
At the core of Complete Spanish is the Living Language Method™, based on linguistic science, proven techniques, and over 65 years of experience. • 3 Books: 46 lessons, additional review exercises, culture notes, an extensive glossary, and a grammar summary—plus a bonus notebook. • 9 Audio CDs: Vocabulary, dialogues, audio exercises, and more—listen while using the books or use for review on the go. • Free Online Learning: Flashcards, games, and interactive quizzes for each lesson at www.livinglanguage.com/languagelab. Living Language has been a proven and effective language learning instruction for over 65 years.
Reviews
"To get 9 CDs and 3+ books for $28 is just an unbelievable bargain especially compared to big-name systems which, ironically, consistently get poor reviews and cost much, much more. The main advantage of the Duolingo course is that it is interactive -- you have to type in answers and if you get too many wrong, you have to repeat the lesson. Another thing is that listening to spoken Spanish and reading it at the same doubles your learning capacity as aural and visual input are stored in different parts of the brain and subsequently reinforce each other."
"In contrast to my high school German, I was clearly at my own pace with this study, and I proceeded at one lesson each week, regardless of how easy some seemed (with the exception of numbers, which went more quickly). That being said, if you are not keen on the subjunctive mood, indirect object pronouns and similar grammatical elements as such, the books provide brief descriptions of each as they are encountered."
"However, I decided to leave this feedback since Living Language really has to be appreciated for their great method of teaching, their great service and their great price that is very affordable."
"I had previously purchased Rosetta Stone which provides no workbooks and the online access costs $14 per month or $89 per year....this after you pay a premium price for something that is no better than this product."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Religion & Spirituality

The Word of Promise Audio Bible: New King James Version
This faithful rendering of the New King James Version(R) presents the Bible in more than 90 hours of compelling, dramatic audio theater format. Producer Carl Amari and director JoBe Cerny use many audio drama techniques (more than the average audiobook or even contemporary audio drama) to create the people and places found in the Bible.
Reviews
"He loves the sound effects and how each character has a different voice from the many different actors used to create this series."
"This isn't your standard audio Bible."
"For someone who does not have the time to sit down and read all the time, it is great to hear the whole story of the Bible while sitting in your car."
"Wonderful!"
"Very good."
"Wow the Word comes alive with this dramtized version - reaaly nice!"
"Easy listening."
"Great for when you travel or just driving around town."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Cooking, Food & Wine

How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease
From the physician behind the wildly popular website. NutritionFacts.org. , How Not to Die reveals the groundbreaking scientific evidence behind the only diet that can prevent and reverse many of the causes of disease-related death. In How Not to Die , Dr. Michael Greger, the internationally-renowned nutrition expert, physician, and founder of NutritionFacts.org, examines the fifteen top causes of premature death in America-heart disease, various cancers, diabetes, Parkinson's, high blood pressure, and more-and explains how nutritional and lifestyle interventions can sometimes trump prescription pills and other pharmaceutical and surgical approaches, freeing us to live healthier lives. In addition to showing what to eat to help treat the top fifteen causes of death, How Not to Die includes Dr. Greger's Daily Dozen -a checklist of the twelve foods we should consume every day. Dr. Michael Greger presents the groundbreaking science onhow simple plant-based food choices help us live healthier and happier lives.Dr. Greger describes which foods to eat to prevent the leading causes ofdisease-related death and shows how a diet based on fruits, vegetables, tubers,whole grains, and legumes might even save your life." Not onlydoes Dr. Michael Greger drop a metric f*ckton of evidence that a plant-baseddiet will save your damn life, he lays out the blueprint to make it happen. "Finally a physician has pulled together the latest scientific studies onhow to fight disease and prolong life. His workat NutritionFacts.org and in HOW NOT TO DIE features the latest science onnutrition and health to show how to treat and prevent disease." "Meticulously well-documented, Greger's guidebookprovides evidence on everything from the pesticide-Parkinson's connection tothe role of antioxidants in breast cancer prevention. Gerger also offers upfriendly tips, like his favorite smoothie recipe and a turmeric tutorial.Follow his advice and you may not live forever, but you'll almost certainlylive a healthier life." Dr Gregertends to rely on the gold standard of medical research randomised controlledtrials rather than the latest fads.
Reviews
"I bought this book in January 2016, after hearing an interview with Dr. Greger on a podcast. At first I found it hard to read, but not because it difficult or confusing, but because it was changing everything I thought I knew about food. By May 2016 I was miserable with my rash and still sitting at 204 lbs, despite my healthy lifestyle and consuming 1500 calories a day."
"for the person that wants to dig deeper, but in a style that has become uniquely his, Dr Greger uses quoted language from the papers to give an unitimidating explanation of the science contained within. He stands almost alone in a mass media that can't seem to get past the catchy titles, abstracts, and carefully worded, often misleading conclusions. The first 15 chapters (how not to die from..cancers, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, etc..) are arranged based on easy to recognize conditions and though they are related can be read completely independent from one another. The book doesn't follow a chronology, so I found myself flipping through an early review copy reading small sections at a time. He doesn't give in to gluten or coconut oil just because it is popular or profitable and while some might find it frustrating, he sticks to the entire body of evidence not the latest single study. Finally, his "Daily Dozen" is a great place to begin implementing the message of bountiful health he enjoys teaching to anyone that will listen. In spite of all the economic momentum for more profitable and popular food, each year hundreds of articles surface on the benefits of adding more plant-based nutrition to one's diet for health and Dr Michael Greger seems to find them all."
"For the same price that would get me a week in the Caribbean sun, lying on deck of a cruise ship drinking margaritas, listening to reggae music and watching the waves go by, I was going to get a lighted probe stuck up my butt. The closer we stick to that, the healthier we become, and the more our bodies revert to their natural state of robust health rather than the sickly, wimpy physiques resulting from the Standard American Diet (SAD). The books' greatest strength is the thorough and objective research combined with Dr. Greger's ability to break complex and extensive information down into a language that even those of us artsy types who tried to dodge science in school can understand."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Mystery & Thrillers

Origin: A Novel
The #1 New York Times Bestseller from the author of The Da Vinci Code Bilbao, Spain Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology and religious iconology, arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend a major announcement—the unveiling of a discovery that “will change the face of science forever.” The evening’s host is Edmond Kirsch, a forty-year-old billionaire and futurist whose dazzling high-tech inventions and audacious predictions have made him a renowned global figure. Navigating the dark corridors of hidden history and extreme religion, Langdon and Vidal must evade a tormented enemy whose all-knowing power seems to emanate from Spain’s Royal Palace itself . On a trail marked by modern art and enigmatic symbols, Langdon and Vidal uncover clues that ultimately bring them face-to-face with Kirsch’s shocking discovery . Dan Brown is the author of numerous #1 international bestsellers, including The Da Vinci Code, Inferno , The Lost Symbol , Angels & Demons , Deception Point, and Digital Fortress .
Reviews
"I love Dan Brown's novels, his writing style, and his extensive use of history/tech in most of them, and I always learn something when I read his books. Brown has a plug and play format that he follows, and as I read this book, it's basically Robert Langdon at some educational/art venue where a friend/colleague, etc. There was supposed suspense, in that you want to find out what in the world Langdon's friend had to say before his murder--and of course, you have to wait until the end to find out."
"Racing through Spain with Robert Langdon and a captivating young woman named Ambra Vidal is an intriguing way to get us into this world of symbols, artwork and religious extremism. I’d still love to see Dan get back into the Templars someday, like he did in "The Da Vinci Code," but at least some good nonfiction books do that now. Moving from a secret, mountain-top meeting at Montserrat just outside Barcelona to a huge public affair at the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, we are teased with the idea that a revelation will be made which shakes all known religions to their core."
"After the first few chapters the book hits a road block - it stops being a DaVinci code knock off and becomes something else. I also realized that the small passage of time directly related to the lengthy descriptions of art, books, etc. The early chapters describe the museum at Bilbo and I went online while I was reading to see pictures."
Find Best Price at Amazon
Home > Best Books > Best Books on CD > Best Nonfiction